Dec 04, 2024  
2015-2016 Graduate Catalogue 
    
2015-2016 Graduate Catalogue Archived Catalogue

Chemistry, M.S.


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Graduate Coordinator, Main Campus: Dr. Robert Kieber
Graduate Coordinator, Distance Education: Dr. John Tyrell

The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry offers a program of study leading to the Master of Science degree in chemistry. The objectives of this program are to give students who have an undergraduate foundation in chemistry the opportunity to engage in advanced course work, in–depth study, and independent research in order to acquire the skills of assimilating known information and generating new knowledge. These problem–solving skills provide the foundation for future contributions by the graduates in various areas of chemistry, whether they are employed, seek employment directly or choose to undertake further graduate study elsewhere.

Admission Requirements


Applicants seeking admission to the graduate program in chemistry are required to submit the following to the Graduate School:

  1. An official application for graduate admission
  2. Official transcripts of all college work (undergraduate and graduate)
  3. Official scores on the Graduate Record Examination (verbal, quantitative, analytical writing)
  4. Three recommendations by individuals in professionally relevant fields
  5. Application and supplemental documents must be submitted by the published deadline.

A bachelor’s degree with a concentration in chemistry from a regionally accredited college or university in this country, or its equivalent in a foreign institution, is required for admission, along with a “B” average or better in chemistry courses. Admission decisions are based upon several factors, and where other indicators of success warrant, individuals who fall below the established criteria in one of the areas may be considered for admission.

Degree Requirements (30 or 36 total credit hours)


  1. Programs leading to the Master of Science degree require 30 or 36 credit hours of graduate study. No more than 12 credit hours from those courses cross listed as 400/500 may be applied toward the degree. Up to fifteen credit hours of graduate courses offered by other departments may be approved by the student’s advisor or graduate coordinator. A maximum of six credit hours may be transferred from another regionally accredited institution. Grades earned on transfer work must be equivalent to a “B” or better, and courses must be acceptable to the student’s advisor or graduate coordinator. A minimum of 24 credit hours of graduate study must be completed in residence or online.
     
  2. Deficiencies in a student’s undergraduate preparation will be ascertained by the graduate coordinator in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. Any deficiencies must be remedied prior to graduation.
     
  3. Capstone/Thesis Requirements:

    a. The traditional main campus M.S. in chemistry option requires 30 credit hours of graduate study.  A thesis, reporting the results of the student’s original research project, must be submitted by the student and approved by the student’s advisory committee. The student must successfully complete a comprehensive examination and an oral defense of the thesis.  A thesis manuscript must be sent to the Graduate School.

    b. The corporate M.S. in chemistry option allows employees from participating companies or academic institutions to complete their Master’s degree by taking graduate courses online and working on research projects that are supervised by UNCW and industrial scientists or academic mentors and carried out at the company. This option requires 30 credit hours of graduate study.  A thesis, reporting the results of the student’s original research project, must be submitted by the student and approved by the student’s advisory committee. The student must successfully complete a comprehensive examination and an oral defense of the thesis.  A thesis manuscript must be sent to the Graduate School.

    c. The chemical studies M.S. in chemistry option requires 36 credit hours of graduate study that combines a minimum of 21 credit hours of online graduate course work in chemistry with an additional 9 credit hours of specialized graduate courses in chemistry, business, education, or clinical sciences, with remaining hours approved by the student’s advisor or graduate coordinator. The student must successfully complete CHM 597  that consists of a comprehensive project that involves the writing of a literature-based research paper that is approved by the faculty.

 

Required Core Courses: Traditional Thesis (30 total credit hours required)


Exit Requirements


Student must complete and submit a thesis approved by the student’s advisory committee. The thesis must report the results of the student’s original research project. The student must successfully complete a comprehensive examination and an oral defense of the thesis.

Required Core Courses: Corporate Thesis (30 total credit hours required)


Exit Requirements


Student must complete and submit a thesis approved by the student’s advisory committee. The thesis must report the results of the student’s original research project. The student must successfully complete a comprehensive examination and an oral defense of the thesis.

Required Core Courses: Chemical Studies Non-Thesis (36 total credit hours required)


Chemical-Non-Thesis Options


And choose one of the following options:

Exit Requirements


Student must complete a comprehensive project.

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